Lisa Dorrian

Lady Hermon: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what role the Police Service of Northern Ireland underwater search unit is playing in the investigation of the disappearance of Lisa Dorrian;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with senior Police Service of Northern Ireland officers on the investigation into the disappearance of Lisa Dorrian.

Tony Blair: I understand that the Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) have employed a number of resources, including the PSNI underwater search unit, over the past year in the investigation into Lisa Dorrian's disappearance. This remains an on-going police investigation and my hon. Friend the Policing and Security Minister for Northern Ireland (Mr. Woodward) receives regular updates. Given the hon. Lady's interest in this case, I have asked my hon. Friend to keep her updated, within the necessary constraints given that this is an ongoing police investigation.

Afghanistan

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of (a) the number and (b) the total strength of illegal armed groups in Afghanistan.

Kim Howells: We have made no independent assessment of the numbers or strength of Illegal Armed Groups in Afghanistan. The Afghanistan New Beginnings Programme (ANBP), the mechanism through which the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the United National Development Programme and the international community support the Government of Afghanistan's efforts to disarm, demobilise and reintegrate former Afghan Military Force members, estimates that there are 2,000 groups with a total strength of up to 100,000 members. 579 of these groups are already engaged in the disarmament and demobilisation programme. The UK is represented on the ANBP international co-ordinating body and has contributed over £12 million to the ANBP and separate weapons destruction programmes since 2002. Further information is available on the ANBP website at http://www.undpan.bp.org.

Cyprus

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards a settlement of the situation in Cyprus.

Douglas Alexander: The UN Secretary-General recently stated there had been "negligible" progress towards a settlement.
	I welcomed his statement, on the eve of my recent visit to Cyprus, reiterating his commitment to a comprehensive settlement.
	I urge the two communities to resume their dialogue and for progress to be made on all fronts.

Niger Delta

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the security situation in the Niger Delta.

Ian Pearson: The security situation in the Niger Delta remains tense following recent attacks on oil installations and the kidnapping, and subsequent release on 30 January, of four foreign oil workers. We are and will remain in close contact with the Nigerian authorities. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke personally to President Obasanjo of Nigeria on 21 January about the situation.

Russian Federation

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Russian counterpart on the Russian Federation's ratification of the Energy Charter Treaty.

Douglas Alexander: Energy security formed an important part of the discussions that took place on 3 October during the EU-Russia Permanent Partnership Council (PPC), co-chaired by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and on 4 October during the EU-Russia summit, hosted by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. The discussion at the PPC included Russian ratification of the Energy Charter Treaty. Energy Minister Viktor Krishtenko led the Russian delegation to the PPC. President Putin led the delegation to the EU-Russia summit, accompanied by Foreign Minister Lavrov.

HIV Prevention Goal

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what actions the Government have taken to help countries achieve the global prevention goal to reduce HIV prevalence among young men and women aged 15 to 24 years, by 2005.

Gareth Thomas: The UK played a key role in securing support for the Joint United Nations Programme for HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) prevention policy "Intensifying HIV prevention" at its June 2005 programme co-ordination board, which I attended. This policy clearly emphasises the importance of evidence-informed prevention, including linking sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV programmes and access to SRH supplies including female condoms, and tackling harm reduction.
	Building on this, as EU president, we steered and secured agreement on the first EU wide policy Statement on HIV Prevention launched on World AIDS day 2005. This important document affirms the commitment of all 25 European member states to comprehensive and evidence based HIV prevention programming including:
	Universal access to sexual and reproductive health information and services;
	Reliable access to essential sexual and reproductive health supplies including condoms;
	Universal access to education and life skills and sexuality education;
	Action to confront and address gender-based violence;
	Provision of accessible and integrated health promotion and harm reduction services for drug users.
	Also on World AIDS Day 2005, the UK Government published a paper on "Harm reduction—tackling drug use and HIV in the developing world". The paper builds on cross-Government consensus on harm reduction, ensuring a coordinated and collaborative UK approach.
	Harm reduction refers to policies, strategies and programmes designed to reduce the harm associated with the use of psychoactive substances, including illicit drugs. Actions include:
	Needle and syringe access to reduce opportunities for HIV transmission by removing the need to share injecting equipment;
	Drug substitution therapy providing orally administered drugs to reduce the need for injections; and
	Information and advice on sexual and reproductive health.
	Harm reduction activities provide an important entry point for interventions such as condom distribution, voluntary counselling and testing, peer education on safer sex and reproductive health. In addition to strong policy and strategy directions, the UK has invested in a number of aid instruments which are helping to secure effective HIV prevention outcomes. This includes our substantial investments in the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, (£100 million annually in 2006 and 2007) the World Bank and in new prevention technologies (International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, International Partnership on Microbicides and the Microbicides Development Programme).
	Across Africa, DFID's 16 priority country programmes 1 are working with national partners to deliver comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment and care services. The main focus has been to strengthen national multi-sectoral responses in line with the "Three Ones 2 ". Within this our programmes strengthen national HIV prevention efforts such as ensuring a stable supply of sexual and reproductive health services and commodities including male and female condoms. For example, DFID's £20 million HIV programme (STARZ) works with the Government of Zambia's national HIV and AIDS programme to provide reproductive health supplies, including condoms and education materials for HIV prevention, along with expansion of prevention of mother to child transmission programmes. In Uganda, we are funding civil society organisations such as TASO to provide prevention services such as youth clubs, radio talks, peer education workshops along with provision of care (counselling, clinical services, child support) to people living with AIDS .
	Brazil's success in stabilising its AIDS epidemic within a decade is an acknowledged model for the developing world. Using the two principles of a rights based approach for people living with HIV and AIDS, and full dialogue and involvement of civil society, prevalence rates in Brazil are less than half the level estimated by the World Bank 10 years ago. The 15 to 24-years age group receive priority attention in AIDS education and health promotion initiatives, with a strong focus on mass media campaigns, backed up with small group education and condom distribution. DFID is now supporting the Brazil programme to provide technical assistance to AIDS programmes in other countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
	In the Caribbean, as in many places, stigma and discrimination is driving the epidemic. There are particular concerns that young women in the 15 to 24-years age group are now twice as likely as their male peers to be infected with HIV. DFID has been funding a "Champions for Change" programme, designed to encourage political, community and faith-based leaders to speak out against stigma and discrimination directed towards people living with HIV and AIDS, sex workers and men who have sex with men. Early signs, from the UNAIDS Epidemic Update (December 2005) show that overall prevalence may be starting to reach a plateau, though much remains to be done to continue and expand this improving trend.
	DFID supports the response to AIDS in nine countries in Asia: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Indonesia and Burma (through the UN). HIV in these countries is less than 1 per cent. (with the exception of Cambodia where the incidence and prevalence rates of HIV are now falling, and Burma where measurement is particularly challenging). The relevant UN targets in these countries are therefore the prevalence rates in vulnerable groups rather than in the general population aged 15 to 24. Much of DFID's effort in these countries is directed towards prevention. This includes supporting evidence of modes of transmission and trends in spread of infection in emerging epidemics. We are also supporting the targeted delivery of services to vulnerable groups such as injecting drug users, sex workers and their clients and men who have sex with men.
	1 Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
	2 One agreed AIDS Action Framework for each country that drives alignment of all partners; One national AIDS authority, with a broad-based multi-sectoral mandate; One agreed country-level monitoring and evaluation system.

Press Coverage

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on how many occasions since 1 April 2003 he has complained to the Press Complaints Commission about the coverage in the press of (a) Ministers or officials and (b) his Department; and how many of these complaints were upheld.

Gareth Thomas: DFID has not made any no complaints to the Press Complaints Commission during this period.

Railways

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what projections he has made of the growth in rail capacity 2025.

Derek Twigg: Rail capacity is a measure of the ability of the network to accommodate passenger and freight demand. The UK network is an intensive mixed traffic railway and its capacity depends on the mix of the type, speed, length, routeing and stopping patterns of passenger and freight trains. The Department is working with Network Rail and the Office of Rail Regulation to determine the forecast demand for passenger and freight.
	The Government will specify the passenger capacity outputs it seeks from the rail network for Control Period 4 (which runs from April 2009 to March 2014) in the High Level Output Specification. Future High Level Output Specifications at five-yearly intervals will similarly specify the two successive Control Periods to 2025.

Road Pricing Schemes

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the effect on congestion of (a) a national road pricing scheme and (b) road pricing schemes in local authority areas;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the likely effect of (a) a national road pricing scheme and (b) road pricing schemes in local authority areas on car use;
	(3)  whether his Department has made an estimate of how much travel on (a) rural roads, (b) urban roads and (c) motorways would cost per mile under a national road pricing scheme.

Stephen Ladyman: "The Feasibility Study of Road Pricing in the UK", published by the Department for Transport in July 2004, showed that road pricing could potentially reduce congestion by some 40 per cent. with benefits of up to £12 billion a year in time savings and increased reliability. The study modelled a wide range of theoretical schemes and charges including variants of national road pricing and of charging in local authority areas. A copy of the study report was placed in the Library, and is also available on the Department's website.

Road Pricing Schemes

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the (a) availability, (b) cost and (c) viability of technology to support (i) a national road pricing scheme and (ii) road pricing schemes in local authority areas.

Stephen Ladyman: "The Feasibility Study of Road Pricing in the UK", published by the Department for Transport in July 2004, (a copy of which is in the House Library), concluded that the equipment necessary to deliver a full position-based charging scheme would probably not be available in a mass-market, low-cost form, until 2014. The Department is continuing to explore how the market might develop over the coming years and what synergies and opportunities this could offer in terms of road pricing.
	Technologies which could support local or regional schemes, such as microwave tags and automatic number plat recognition, are well proven and are already used both in the UK and internationally. The costs of technology for local schemes will depend on the individual area and would need to be evaluated as part of the development of the business case for the scheme.

Traffic Management Act

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an assessment of the effects of the Traffic Management Act 2004 on traffic congestion on motorways following an accident; if he will publish each assessment; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Traffic Management Act (004) enabled the Highways Agency to establish a Traffic Officer Service on motorways and on a limited number of all purpose trunk roads in England. The congestion reduction benefits derived from the introduction of the traffic officer service are not due to be assessed until 2008 when the service will have been fully operational for 12 months. I would expect the assessment, which will cover the impacts of introducing the traffic officer service on reducing incident related congestion; improving safety; improving the accuracy of information on variable message signs and freeing up police resources for tackling criminality, to be published after this time when the data has been gathered and analysed.

Licensing Act

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) evidence she considered and (b) account she took of existing legislation when deciding to license (i) live music in bars and restaurants, (ii) Punch and Judy shows and (iii) circuses under the Licensing Act 2003.

James Purnell: With regard to (a) , the Government considered the responses to a consultation on public entertainment licensing conducted in 1996 and the findings of a review of licensing law conducted with stakeholders between 1998 and 1999. The outcome of the Government's consideration of the evidence was reported in the White Paper "Time for Reform: the Modernisation of our Licensing Laws" (Cm 4696). The Government subsequently considered about 1200 responses to the White Paper and the views of relevant stakeholders, including the Arts Council for England, the Musicians' Union, Equity, the Independent Street Arts Network and the Circus Arts Forum. With regard to (b) , the Government examined the operation of the Licensing Act 1964, particularly section 182, Schedule 12 of the London Government Act 1963, the Private Places of Entertainment Act 1967, the Theatres Act 1968 and Schedule 1 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.
	The evidence showed that live music in bars and restaurants was generally licensable under the 1963 and 1982 Acts, save for the narrow exemption under section 182 of the 1964 Act applying to live music performed by not more than two people throughout the day on premises licensed to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises. Punch and Judy shows were licensable under the Theatres Act 1968, but in practice this law was rarely, if ever, enforced. The position of circuses was unclear under the 1963, 1982 and 1968 Acts because of anachronistic exemptions in the 1982 Act which related to entertainments at pleasure fairs and the lack of any obvious exemptions under the 1963 and 1968 Acts. However, in practice circuses were not being licensed, though some were being controlled by local authorities through the unsatisfactory use of public health legislation.

Clean Coal Technology

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent steps he has taken to promote (a) clean coal technology and (b) carbon sequestration.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 6 February 2006
	The Government announced £25 million for the demonstration of Carbon Abatement Technologies as part of the "Carbon Abatement Technology Strategy for Fossil Fuel Use", published in June 2005. CATs include Clean Coal Technology and Carbon Capture and Storage. The Chancellor announced a further £10 million for demonstration in his pre-Budget Statement in November 2005, bringing the total Government support for demonstration to £35 million. The money will be available from April 2006 for 4 years. We expect to receive proposals from industry for projects in late spring 2006.
	In addition to this, CAT projects have been included as part of the November 2005 call for R&D proposals under the DTI's Technology Programme supporting collaborative R&D. Around £13 million is being made available for energy based technologies with some of this being allocated to the successful CAT projects.

Clear Skies Grants

Robert Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the Clear Skies grants made to projects in Dorset since the scheme was introduced.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 30 January 2006
	Since the start of the Clear Skies programme, grant support has been approved for 195 household projects in Dorset, 136 of which have completed and received grant funding. In terms of community projects, four have been approved for grant funding, of which one has completed and received funding, two are yet to complete and one has withdrawn. A list of community projects supported under Clear Skies can be accessed at http://www.clear-skies.org/communities/ApplicationGuidelines.aspx There is not a publicly available list for household projects.

Energy from Waste Plants

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why energy from waste plants accepting mixed waste will not be eligible for renewable obligation certificates.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government made clear in the statutory consultation document on the 2005–06 review of the renewables obligation that the majority of new energy from waste projects should not need the support of the obligation to be economic. For this reason the Government does not propose to introduce an amendment to eligibility, which would allow the majority of new projects using conventional technologies to claim renewable obligation certificates (ROCs) from mixed waste.
	The statutory consultation document also made clear that whilst the majority of new energy from mixed waste plants, utilising conventional combustion technology, should be economic without the support of the obligation, energy from mixed waste plants, which utilise combined heat and power (CHP), would be likely to face additional capital costs in relation to the supply of heat. Given the carbon abatement benefits arising from the use, rather than the waste of heat from the combustion process, the Government proposes to extend ROC eligibility to electricity generated from the biomass fraction of mixed waste, which uses CHP. This change will take effect from 1 April 2006.
	Energy from mixed waste, using advanced conversion technologies such as pyrolysis, gasification and anaerobic digestion, remains eligible for support under the renewables obligation.
	A copy of the statutory consultation document on the 2005–066 review of the renewables obligation is available from the Libraries of the House.

Mobile Telephones (Charges)

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are being taken by his Department to prosecute companies who charge people for a service they did not want on their mobile telephone.

Alun Michael: The Government's aim is have in place controls which give the consumer sufficient safeguards but which do not unduly hamper the development of the market. Unsolicited text (SMS) messages are illegal under new statutory controls, which were introduced as part of the new Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003. The Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS) is responsible for administering Premium Rate Services (PRS) and can fine companies and bar access to services.
	As a result of various PRS scams during 2004, the Government asked the communications and media regulator, Ofcom to carry out a review of PRS regulation. In December 2004 Ofcom published a report, which contained a set of recommendations to reduce the scope for consumer harm. Most of Ofcom's recommendations have already been implemented to improve the PRS regulatory regime, including raising the maximum penalty for breaches of the ICSTIS Code of Practice from £100,000 to £250,000.
	The recommendations focus on:
	Enforcement—tightening up the regulatory regime to give the regulator, ICSTIS, more powers to act more quickly against those abusing the PRS payment mechanism.
	Consumer redress—improving the likelihood of consumers being able to get their money back where they are the subject of a PRS fraud.
	Consumer information—informing consumers better about how to avoid being the victim of PRS fraud.
	One key recommendation that has already been implemented is to slow down the flow of funds from network operators to service providers, by making operators withhold payment for 30 days from when a PRS call is made. New rules on compensation for consumers who have been subject to a scam are also being implemented. Then, if there are complaints, it will be possible to hold back funds for a longer period, thus ensuring that fines and repayments can be paid. This will reduce the likelihood of a quick gain being made through the provision of unwanted or unacceptable practices. The new requirement will allow ICSTIS to have suspect services cut off at an earlier stage using its emergency procedure and prevent service providers from being paid for fraudulent services. The commencement date for this new requirement was 15 September 2005.
	The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) is an independent body set up by the advertising industry to police the rules laid down in the advertising codes. ASA receives and upholds many complaints from parents whose children have received large phone bills because they downloaded ringtones without realising the financial commitment involved.
	The industry itself announced in January 2005 that consumers must be clearly informed by text about what they have subscribed to, the cost, and how to stop the service (a consumer "must" be able to switch off the service with the universal "stop" command). All the UK mobile operators have signed up to these new safeguards and agreed to require those content providers using their networks to comply with them. In other words all content providers have to comply with the new safeguards or will face the suspension of their services (and therefore the blocking and loss of revenue).

North Sea Gas

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why natural gas from UK offshore North Sea sources has been depleted at a faster rate than was envisaged in the 2003 Energy White Paper; and if he will place his Department's calculations in the Library.

Malcolm Wicks: The 2003 Energy White Paper did not specifically forecast the rate of depletion of UK gas but it did say that "it is . . . likely that the UK will become a net importer of gas on an annual basis by around 2006" (paragraph 6.13). This was in line with the projections of outside analysts. For example, Wood Mackenzie, in its August 2001 multi-client report entitled "Running Short of Gas: The Outlook for UK and Irish Gas Markets", had said "It is probable that the UK will become a net importer of gas in either 2005 or 2006." The following table compares the Department's central view of both production and demand at the time of the Energy White Paper with its current central view. This shows that our own gas production from the North Sea declined faster than expected in 2004, with declining production from existing fields not being offset by production from new, smaller fields, and we moved to being a small net gas importer.
	
		
			 bcm 
			  Energy White Paper projected Net UKCS gas production Current actual(1)/projected net UKCS gas production Energy White Paper projected net UK gas demand Current actual(1)/projected net UK gas demand 
		
		
			 2001 105 (1)104 95 (1)95 
			 2002 102 (1)102 96 (1)93 
			 2003 102 (1)102 96 (1)94 
			 2004 102 (1)95 96 (1)96 
			 2005 99 89 97 94 
			 2006 94 90 97 94 
			 2007 83 86 98 94 
			 2008 72 80 98 95 
		
	
	(1) Actual.

Social Enterprises

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to encourage the development of social enterprises.

Alun Michael: The Government published a strategy for social enterprise in 2002. Since then we have provided funding to help establish the Social Enterprise Coalition as a representative body for social enterprises, and carried out a major survey to determine the size of the sector. We have introduced the "Community Interest Company" to provide businesses operating primarily for a social purpose a tailor-made limited company model, and we are working with the regional development agencies to ensure that social enterprises are well-served by publicly funded business support available through Business Link.
	We have produced a guide for banks entitled "Lending to the Social Enterprise sector" and sponsored the excellent "Matchwinners" publication which exemplifies commercial collaboration between social enterprises and the private sector.
	We are currently refreshing the strategy for social enterprise, and will launch a new action plan in the spring. The action plan will focus on four key areas:
	confirming the value of social enterprise
	embedding social enterprise as a recognised business model
	opening markets to social enterprise, and
	encouraging new entrants to the sector.
	Actions will include ensuring social enterprises are well served by publicly funded business support, improving access to public procurement, new research into the impact of social enterprise, and promoting social enterprise to potential entrepreneurs.

Apache Helicopter

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many qualified pilots for the Apache AH Mk1 helicopter there were (a) on the last date for which figures are available and (b) in 1997.

Adam Ingram: As at January 2006 there were 100 qualified pilots, with a further 15 due to be fully trained in April 2006 following their successful completion of a conversation to type training course. There were no trained pilots in 1997 as the Ministry of Defence did not take delivery of the Apache Mk 1 until 15 March 2000.

Armed Forces Deployment

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of each of the three services he expects to be (a) serving abroad and (b) deployed on front-line duties between 24 December 2005 and 2 January 2006; and what percentage of the trained strength of each service each of these figures represents.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 16 December 2005
	The following table gives the numbers of personnel deployed on operations and the numbers serving overseas (but not on operations) at 14 December 2005. The figure did not rise significantly over the Christmas period, however staff taking leave may have caused both numbers to fall.
	The number of personnel categorised as "serving overseas, but not on operations" remaining away from the United Kingdom over the Christmas period was likely to be significantly smaller, as personnel in Germany and Cyprus for example, may have chosen to take their leave back in the UK. Some personnel deployed on operations will have taken rest and recuperation (R+R) during this time and the figures do not reflect these temporary fluctuations.
	The percentage for trained strength is based on a total that includes regular forces and the regular and volunteer reserves. The figures do not include individuals liable for recall in a crisis, university or cadet forces.
	
		
			 Service Number deployed on operations Number serving overseas not on operations Total Percentage of trained strength 
		
		
			 Naval Service 1,320 120 1,440 1.5 
			 Army 8,213 22,786 30,999 9.2 
			 Royal Air Force 2,768 2,506 5,292 5.3

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which army regiments have visited Gibraltar in the last 12 months.

Adam Ingram: The following regiments have visited Gibraltar in the last 12 months:
	104 Regiment (Royal Artillery)(Volunteers)
	20 Field Squadron, 36 Royal Engineer Regiment
	Royal Ghurkha Regiment
	503 Specialist Team Royal Engineers Fuel Infra
	East of England Regiment
	30 Signal Regiment; 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion (Volunteers)
	104 Logistic Support Regiment (Volunteers)
	Scottish Transport Regiment (Volunteers)
	35 Signal Regiment (Volunteers), Bowman Conversion Team
	Royal School of Military Engineering
	1st Battalion on Welsh Guards
	47th Regiment Royal Artillery
	22 (Gibraltar) Battery, 32 Regiment Royal Artillery

HELEN Laser

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much (a) revenue and (b) capital expenditure has been allocated to the HELEN laser at AWE Aldermaston in each of the last five years.

John Reid: The expenditure allocated to the HELEN laser in each of the last five years is set out in the following table:
	
		
			   £ million 
			  Capital Revenue 
		
		
			 2000–01 0 4 
			 2001–02 0 4 
			 2002–03 1 4 
			 2003–04 3 4 
			 2004–05 3 5 
		
	
	Note:
	All figures are at out-turn prices.

Asylum Seekers

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum-seekers under the age of 18 years are detained in Government detention centres in the UK.

Tony McNulty: Information on the number of persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers is available from a snapshot taken on the last Saturday of the quarter and is published in the Quarterly Asylum Statistics publications. The last published data shows that 75 persons recorded as being under 18-years-old, who had sought asylum at some stage, were being detained in the UK solely under Immigration Act powers as at 24 September 2005.
	The next available data as at 31 December 2005 will be published on 28 February 2006.
	This information is available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Citizenship

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that those seeking UK citizenship are required (a) to know the words of the National Anthem and (b) to have knowledge of the flags and patron saints of the nations of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The questions for the Life in the UK Test are based on the information in chapters two, three and four of the handbook "Life in the United Kingdom: A journey to Citizenship." Details of National days and patron saints of the four nations are included in Chapter 3.
	Both the playing and participation in the singing of the national anthem is encouraged at Citizenship Ceremonies, but is not compulsory.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the complaints made by (a) members of the public, (b) hon. Members and (c) members of the House of Lords about the conduct of the Criminal Cases Review Commission in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what the outcome of each complaint was.

Fiona Mactaggart: The total number of complaints and their outcomes since the Commission's inception in 1997 are set out in the following table. Most complaints are made by applicants or by family members or representatives on behalf of applicants. Where a Member of Parliament takes up a complaint on the request of an applicant the complaint is treated as if it had been made by the applicant. Complaints made by Members of parliament are not recorded separately.
	
		
			  Number of complaints Number of complaints upheld 
		
		
			 1997–98 11 7 
			 1998–99 15 2 
			 1999–2000 34 9 
			 2000–01 63 14 
			 2001–02 69 10 
			 2002–03 76 11 
			 2003–04 67 8 
			 2004–05 69 13 
			 1 April-31 December 2005 44 (13)3 
		
	
	(13) Five are still under consideration

Forensic Science

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the professional forensic bodies' register of members who are suitably qualified to act as an expert witness.

Andy Burnham: There are a number of organisations (which could be described as "professional forensic bodies") that maintain lists of persons who act as expert witnesses or, in some manner, are recommended as expert witnesses. The Home Office has no responsibility for these lists and has not undertaken any assessment of them.

Forensic Science

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the work of the Home Office Policy Advisory Board for Forensic Pathology.

Andy Burnham: The Policy Advisory Board for Forensic Pathology was created in 1991 following the "Wasserman Report" on the provision of forensic pathology in England and Wales. The role of the board was to advise the Home Secretary on forensic pathology matters with particular reference to the national aspects of forensic pathology services in England and Wales, such as appointment and accreditation, quality assurance, training and research and development. In response to the "Leishman Review" of forensic pathology the role of the board has been transferred to other bodies. The board still exists and one of its sub-committees is still responsible for matters related to complaints but the transfer of functions is expected to be completed imminently. At that point the board shall be disbanded.

Prisoners

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) escapes and (b) unapproved absences there have been from each English prison in each year since 1996–97; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: Data on the number of escapes and absconds broken down by prison establishment in England and Wales from 1996–97 to 27 January 2006 is shown in tables which have been placed in the Library. The total number of absconds and release on temporary licence failures is also detailed. However, a breakdown by establishment could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The number of temporary release failures compared to the actual number of releases on Release On Temporary Licence (ROTL) per year is very low. In 2002, 287,732 ROTL licences were granted and in 2003 there were 328,780. The corresponding temporary release failures were 316 and 405 respectively.
	Prisoners released on ROTL are risk assessed before any release takes place. A Prison Governor will not release any prisoner who is considered to be a risk to the public or who is unlikely to be able to comply with the terms of the ROTL licence. Any failure of ROTL is taken seriously and will be taken into consideration with any further ROTL applications.
	Prison staff are vigilant in their day-to-day activities in preventing escapes. This is supported by Prison Service Orders, professional expertise and regular internal reminders of the need to mange prisoners decently while preventing their escape. The level of escapes continues to be well below the Key Performance Indicator target. In the period April to 31 December 2005 there have been no escapes from prison establishments, three from prison escorts and two from court escorts bringing the overall total to five. This compares favourably to last year's total of 15 escapes for the same period.
	Each abscond from an open or semi open prison is investigated locally and findings inform both local and national policy.

Probation Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has received on the restructuring of the probation service from (a) former employees of the probation service, (b) the author of "Managing Offenders, Reducing Crime" and (c) advisers to the Government on crime.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Government's proposals for restructuring probation are based on Lord Carter's analysis of the correctional services as set out in the paper "Managing Offenders, Reducing Crime". These proposals were set out in the consultation paper "Restructuring Probation to reduce re-offending", published on 20 October 2005. We plan to publish a summary of responses to the consultation—which included responses from some former employees of the probation service—within three months of its conclusion on 20 December.

Rape

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of contested prosecutions for rape in the Avon and Somerset police force area have resulted in a conviction in the last five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: Data held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of defendants pleading not guilty of rape and the number and percentage of these found guilty of rape at the Crown curt in Avon and Somerset police force area, is provided in the attached table. Figures are presented for the years 2000–04.
	
		Number of defendants pleading not-guilty of rape and the number and percentage of these found guilty of rape at the Crown court, Avon and Somerset police force area, 2000–2004(23)
		
			  Not guilty pleas Found guilty Conviction rate (percentage) 
		
		
			 2000 25 3 12 
			 2001 28 9 32 
			 2002 22 7 32 
			 2003 48 13 27 
			 2004 40 13 33 
		
	
	(23) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	Note: Rape includes rape of a female and male.

Rehabilitation of Offenders

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government have to implement the recommendation of his Department's publication "Breaking the Circle: A Report of the Review of the Rehabilitation of Offenders", published in July 2002; and what assessment has been made of the impact of the decision to date not to implement these recommendations on the rehabilitation of offenders.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Government have accepted the majority of the review's recommendations and will legislate when parliamentary time allows.
	We are also considering what might be necessary for the disclosure regime in the light of the Bichard report which dealt with criminal records in the context of the protection of children and vulnerable adults.
	No assessment has been made regarding the impact of non-implementation. However, the Criminal Records Bureau's Code of Practice requires that employers receiving disclosure information do not unfairly discriminate against applicants on the basis of previous convictions.

Job Statistics (Tamworth)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) private sector jobs in (i) manufacturing and (ii) the service sector and (b) public sector jobs there were in Tamworth constituency in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 7 February 2006
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about private and public sector employment in Tamworth. I am replying in her absence. (48661)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics for the United Kingdom of public sector employment from a quarterly survey of public sector organisations. However, estimates at local area level are not available.
	Information at local area level is only available from the annual local area Labour Force Survey (LFS)/Annual Population Survey (APS) of individual people in households. However, in this source, the categorisation of employment in the public or private sector depends upon the responses from the individuals interviewed. As reported by ONS in October 2005 in the publication "Public Sector Employment Trends" some individuals tend to misreport private sector employment as being in the public sector hence leading to overestimates of the share of public sector employment.
	With this reservation about the data quality, the attached table shows the number of persons in private sector and public sector employment, for people resident in the Tamworth Parliamentary Constituency as shown by the annual local area LFS for the 12 month periods ending February 1999 to February 2004, and from the APS for the 12 months ending December 2004. Estimates are not available for 1997.
	These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty. Changes in the estimates from year to year should be treated with particular caution.
	
		Persons in employment resident in the Tamworth parliamentary constituency by private-public sector split(24)
		
			 Thousands 
			 12 months ending Private sector Public sector Total 
			  Manufacturing Services Other industries(25)   
		
		
			 February 1999 14 23 4 7 47 
			 February 2000 15 25 5 5 49 
			 February 2001 15 21 5 8 50 
			 February 2002 13 26 3 7 50 
			 February 2003 13 28 3 6 50 
			 February 2004 11 22 4 9 46 
			 December 2004 11 24 5 8 48 
		
	
	(24) Public/private sector split based on responses from individuals responding to the annual local area Labour Force Survey. This generally results in overestimates of public sector employment.
	(25) Other industries are Agriculture, Fishing, Energy and Water and Construction.
	Note:
	Estimates are subject to sampling variability. Changes from year to year should be treated with particular caution.
	Source:
	Annual local area Labour Force Survey; Annual Population Survey.

Public Sector Accounts

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the changes made to the definitions of capital spending in the Public Sector Accounts since May 2001.

Des Browne: There have been none.

Small Business Relief Scheme

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses have applied for the small business relief scheme in each of the last five years; how many were eligible in each year; and how many of those were successful in each year.

John Healey: The small business rate relief scheme carne into effect from 1 April 2005. Applications for small business rate relief may be made up to six months after the end of the financial year to which the application relates, or six months from notification of an alteration to a rateable value that makes the hereditament eligible for relief. Information is not held centrally on the number of businesses that applied for and were granted relief in 2005–06.

Spirits

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many entities outside the UK have registered for spirit label stamps; what estimate he has made of the number of stamps which HM Revenue and Customs will distribute to non-UK entities; what steps the Government are taking to ensure the credentials of those applying for stamps abroad; and whether HM Revenue and Customs will police the application and use of stamps overseas.

John Healey: HM Revenue and Customs have so are received 37 applications for registration for duty stamps from businesses outside the UK. All applications are closely scrutinised to ensure that applicants are eligible to be registered for the scheme. For businesses outside the UK, based in the European Union only approved excise warehousekeepers, whose details are confirmed by the other member states' authorities can apply for registration. For businesses outside the European Union, only those in very specific trade categories are eligible to register.
	Registered businesses can make commercial choices as to whether to incorporate the duty stamp into bottle labels or to affix freestanding stamps distributed by HM
	Revenue and Customs' contractor. For imported spirits, the stamps can be applied outside the UK once imported. The number of freestanding stamps distributed to non-UK entities is dependent on these commercial choices and is not possible to estimate at this stage.
	For registered businesses based outside the European Union, HM Revenue and Customs will exercise control over goods as they enter and within the UK and can seek targeted assistance from the authorities of other countries under long-standing agreements between World Customs Organisation members. For businesses based in other member states of the EU, existing arrangements for mutual assistance between fiscal authorities will be used.

Spirits

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how his Department calculates spirit fraud VAT losses within total revenue loss estimates; and whether it is assumed that all illicit bottles pay no VAT as well as no excise duty.

John Healey: For the purposes of its revenue loss estimates, HMRC makes the cautious assumption that illicit bottles of spirits pay no UK VAT as well as no UK excise duty. An average rate of VAT loss in pounds per litre of spirits sold in the UK is derived from data provided by market research organisations. This rate is subsequently multiplied by the amount of the estimated illicit volume in order to obtain the total VAT loss.
	The approaches used for measuring VAT losses are outlined in the HMCE report: "Measuring Indirect Tax Losses—November 2002". This can be accessed through the following link: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/389/E5/admeas02–297kb.pdf.

Spirits

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the value of revenue losses caused by spirit fraud; and what the statistical lower bound estimate is for spirit fraud.

John Healey: The most recent estimates of the value of revenue losses caused by spirits fraud, and associated margins of error, are set out in "Measuring Indirect Tax Losses"—2005 published alongside the pre-Budget report in December 2005.

Spirits

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the Office of National Statistics' review of spirits fraud published on 21 July 2005; and whether he has accepted its conclusions in respect of previous Government estimates of revenue evasion.

John Healey: The Department welcomes the report. Following detailed assessment of the report, the Department has adopted a number of refinements to the method for estimating the level of revenue losses attributable to spirits fraud. These are set out in "Measuring Indirect Tax Losses"—2005, published alongside the 2005 pre-Budget report.

Suicides

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many suicides were committed by people aged 14 to 25 years in each region in the last three years, broken down by sex; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 7 February 2006
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many suicides were committed by people aged 14 to 25 years in each region in the last three years, broken down by sex. I am replying in her absence. (48376)
	In routine statistics, ONS defines suicides as deaths from both intentional self-harm and 'injury of undetermined intent'. The most recent available figures are for the calendar year 2004. The figures in the table below show the number of deaths from intentional self harm and injury of undetermined intent by sex among those aged 14 to 25 for the calendar years 2002 to 2004.
	
		Number of deaths among people aged 14 to 25 years from intentional self harm(26)and injury of undetermined intent(27), by sex for government office regions(28) in England and Wales, 2002 to 2004(29)
		
			 Government Office Region 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Males
			 North East 27 23 29 
			 North West 51 59 57 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 27 28 35 
			 East Midlands 34 37 30 
			 West Midlands 46 35 37 
			 East of England 39 42 31 
			 London 54 58 48 
			 South East 48 67 46 
			 South West 36 35 34 
			 Wales 37 44 26 
			 Females
			 North East 5 6 6 
			 North West 14 10 17 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 10 8 10 
			 East Midlands 13 11 12 
			 West Midlands 8 9 11 
			 East of England 10 8 24 
			 London 19 14 15 
			 South East 21 18 18 
			 South West 9 4 11 
			 Wales 6 9 4 
		
	
	(26) The cause of death for intentional self harm was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84.
	(27) The cause of death for injury of undetermined intent was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) cades Y10-Y34 excluding Y33.9 where the Coroner's verdict was pending. It is assumed likely that most of these deaths are cases where the harm is self-inflicted but there was insufficient evidence to prove that the deceased deliberately intended to kill themselves.
	Deaths were selected using final underlying came of death.
	(28) Usual residents of these areas.
	(29) Deaths occurring in each calendar year.

Transport

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of total projected public expenditure on transport in each year from 2006 to 2015.

Des Browne: The Government are committed to providing significant resources to maintain and modernise the transport network. Spending Review 2004 set out estimates of UK public expenditure on transport of £20.1 billion for 2006–07 and £19.3 billion for 2007–08. These totals included £13.6 billion and £12.9 billion allocated to the Department for Transport for 2006–07 and 2007–08 respectively. The remainder in each year is estimated expenditure by local authorities and the devolved Administrations. Actual local and devolved transport expenditure will be made according to their own spending decisions.
	Over the period 2008–09 to 2014–15, a Long Term Funding Guideline has been agreed with the Department for Transport to provide a stable financial framework within which to plan transport improvements. This guideline is set out in "The Future of Transport: A network for 2030," published by the Department for Transport in July 2004. This guideline does not include projections of future expenditure on transport by local authorities and the devolved Administrations, which they will determine according to their own spending priorities.

Forensic Science

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many individuals have started forensic science-related National Vocational Qualifications since 1997; and what percentage have completed the course.

Bill Rammell: Two NVQs for "Forensic Science" at Levels 4 and 5 were accredited by QCA in January 1998, expired on 30 June 2000 and reached their certification end date on 30 June 2003. Information is not collected on how many learners started NVQs—however, no certificates were awarded for either of these qualifications.

General Teaching Council

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many disciplinary cases were heard by the General Teaching Council in each year since 2000;
	(2)  what the average period between referral to the General Teaching Council and a disciplinary hearing taking place was in each year since 2000;
	(3)  how many teachers were referred for disciplinary action before the General Teaching Council in each year since 2000.

Jacqui Smith: According to information provided by the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) 161 teachers were referred to the Council for disciplinary action in 2001–02. This figure rose to: 217 in 2002–03, 267 in 2003–04 and 322 in 2004–05. For 2005 to date there have been 265 referrals.
	These figures relate to the receipt of all referrals made to the Council. The Council has the power to take disciplinary action on teacher incompetence, and on cases of teacher misconduct which do not relate to child protection.
	Cases are scrutinised by the Council's Investigating Committee before being recommended for a full formal hearing before a professional conduct or professional competence committee. Based on the latest information available from the Council, the number of full hearings dealt with by these committees is set out in the table:
	
		
			  Number of hearings 
		
		
			 2001–02 (34)3 
			 2002–03 20 
			 2003–04 43 
			 2004–05 40 
			 2005–31 January 2006 53 
		
	
	(34) The first regulatory hearing of the Council was convened in January 2002
	The GTCE does not hold the data about the average period between referral of a case to the Council and a disciplinary hearing taking place in a readily accessible form. However, the Council estimates that the average waiting period is currently around 12 months.

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she plans to take to increase the uptake of educational opportunities and skills learning in the prison estate; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Hope: We are introducing a new offender learning and skills service that is more learner-centred and flexible, with better links between education and vocational training. This is intended to motivate more offenders in custody to address their learning and skills needs. The new service is already being delivered by the Learning and Skills Council in three development regions and will be rolled out in the remaining six English regions from 31 July 2006.
	Looking further ahead, the Government have set out a strategy to improve the skills and job prospects for offenders in the Green Paper "Reducing Re-Offending Through Skills and Employment", published on 15 December. The document was published jointly on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills, the Home Office and the Department for Work and Pensions. We have now embarked on an extensive period of consultation, running until the end of May, during which we welcome a full range of views.

Private Tutors

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she is proposing to ensure the safety of children taught by private tutors.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 24 January 2006
	Where an individual is barred from working with children under section 142 of the Education Act 2002 on the grounds that he or she is "unsuitable to work with children", it is a criminal offence to work or seek work in any position that includes training or being in sole charge of a child or children. A person guilty of this offence is liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment for up to six months and/or a fine and, on indictment, to imprisonment for up to five years and/or a fine.
	The Department would strongly advise parents to verify the credentials of any person employed to provide private tuition for a child, particularly if that person is likely to be alone with the child at any time. For example, parents could ask prospective tutors for references from a recent employer.
	The Department is fully aware that parents currently have limited access to information. The new scheme to be implemented as part of the Bichard Inquiry Recommendations will allow parents to access relevant information on people they wish to employ as home tutors.
	I made clear in my statement to the House on 12 January, we are committed to implementing Sir Michael Bichard's recommendations to tighten the system of vetting and barring people who wish to work with children and that will entail the ability for parents to check whether tutors, nannies, and other individuals whom they employ, are barred or disqualified.

School Attendance

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 26 January 2006, Official Report, column 2286W, on fast track to attendance, if she will revise the 2003 guidance Ensuring School Attendance to include joint assessment and support working between Children's and Adult Services.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 6 February 2006
	A general duty is placed on local authorities by section 17 of the Children Act 1989 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children under 18 who are in need by providing a range of services appropriate to meeting those needs. Assessments undertaken by local authorities of children should focus on the needs of the child, the capacity of the parents and wider environmental factors.
	"Ensuring Regular School Attendance: Guidance on the Legal Measures available to Secure Regular School Attendance" is a short document the purpose of which is to give an overview of the various legal measures available. This guidance refers to the importance of investigating the underlying causes of poor attendance and to joined-up working between agencies but it is not a suitable vehicle for setting out case working procedures in more detail.
	My Department issued Effective Attendance advice last year to local authorities and to schools. It stressed the need for all parts of local authorities to be co-ordinated to identify and meet the needs of vulnerable children and families. It highlighted the need for schools to have support systems in place for vulnerable pupils, including young carers. It also emphasised multi-agency support meetings to agree appropriate action. In addition guidance (available since 1999) on "Managing Behaviour and Attendance: Groups at Particular Risk" highlights the particular needs of young carers.

Fire Services

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 202W, on fire services, what assessment the Government have made of the expenditure by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority on the fire control centre for London; and whether the Government made any additional payment to the Authority to finance the cost.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has made no specific assessment of the expenditure by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) on the current London regional fire control centre. The ODPM has received 10 year expenditure forecasts from all 46 fire and rescue authorities in England (including London) for the costs of operating their control centres, which informs the business case for the FiReControl project. No additional payments were made by ODPM to finance the costs of the current London control centre.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what work his Department's Local Government Finance Working Group on Local Government Financial Statistics has conducted on council tax revaluation in (a) England and (b) Wales;
	(2)  whether his Department has a Local Government Finance Working Group on Local Government Financial Statistics.

Phil Woolas: The Working Group on Local Government Financial Statistics (WGLGFS) discussed council tax revaluation twice at recent meetings.
	At the meeting held on 26 January 2005, a paper was presented by a representative of the Welsh Assembly Government on "Revaluation of council tax in Wales".
	At the meeting held on 20 July 2005 an oral report was presented on "Data and timing issues associated with Council Tax revaluation and the Lyons Inquiry".
	Papers and minutes of these meetings are published on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website at:
	http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/stats/wglfs/index.htm .

Planning Policy Guidance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what substantive changes to density regulations were introduced by the publication of Planning Policy Guidance 3 in 2000; and if he will make a statement on his proposals for reform of such regulations in the forthcoming Planning Policy Statement 3.

Yvette Cooper: Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: "Housing" (PPG3), published in 2000, introduced the objective into planning for housing policy that development should make the best use of land. It also introduced a policy that local planning authorities should avoid housing developments which make inefficient use of land (those of less than 30 dwellings per hectare net); encourage developments which make more efficient use of land (between 30 and 50 dwellings per hectare net); and seek greater intensity of development at places with good public transport accessibility.
	Draft Planning Policy Statement 3 "Housing" (PPS3), published for consultation in December 2005, maintains the Government's objective to make the most efficient use of land. It asks local authorities to develop density policies having regard to Annex C of draft PPS3, which sets out indicative density ranges for different types of location, to help local planning authorities develop density policies for their plan area with local stakeholders and local communities. The presumption is that the minimum density of development should be no less than 30 dwellings per hectare.

Contraception

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many females (a) aged 16 and (b) 15 years or less have received contraceptive injections or implants in the Province in each of the last three years.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not available in totality due to contraceptive injections and implants being available from a number of health facilities where either the data is not collected centrally or is not collected in the age bands stipulated in the question.
	The only contraceptive information collected centrally by age breakdown is for Family Planning Clinics. Please note contraceptive injections and implants are also available from general practitioners—information is only available on the number of prescriptions rather than the number of females and no age breakdown is available.
	Both contraceptive injections and implants are available at specialist clinics such as Family Planning Clinics; this does not involve issuing a prescription. The available information for this service is the number of first attendances in each financial year for the age groups under 16 and 16–19 by main method of contraception (see following table). Please note data is not yet available for 2004–05.
	
		Number of first attendances in each financial year, 2001–02 to 2003–04
		
			 Main method of contraception 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Contraceptive Injections
			 Under 16 33 35 17 
			 Aged 16–19 391 515 407 
			 Contraceptive Implants
			 Under 16 6 3 2 
			 Aged 16–19 60 72 77 
		
	
	Note:
	The information is recorded in respect of the first visit during the financial year, therefore the figures equate to the total number of females attending these clinics during the year. The main method of contraception used refers to the method currently in use or to be started immediately after the consultation.

Pathways to Work

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the Pathways to Work pilot programmes in Northern Ireland; and when the pilots are expected to finish;
	(2)  what criteria were used to decide where the Pathways to Work pilot programmes would be sited in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Pathways to Work pilots began in Northern Ireland on 3 October 2005; it is, therefore, too early to undertake an assessment of their operation or effectiveness. In Northern Ireland the pilots are currently planned to run until March 2008. Interim evaluations will be carried out after 18 months of operation and full evaluations at a later stage. Indications from the Pilots in Great Britain, which began in 2003, suggest that Pathways is enjoying considerable success in stemming the on-flow to long term benefit dependency.
	The following criteria were considered when selecting areas for inclusion in the Pathways to Work pilots
	the existence of a joint work-focused service delivered through Jobs and Benefits Office in the pilot areas with sufficient available accommodation;
	the need to match GB pilot coverage of annual on-flow to incapacity benefit (IB);
	the need for wide coverage for evaluation purposes;
	the need to target some "IB hot-spots" (i.e. where IB claims are high compared to ISA claims);
	the need to avoid "initiative overload" in some areas; and
	the capacity of partner organisations, mainly SSA and DHSSPS, to deliver new services in the selected areas within the required timescale.
	It is planned to extend Pathways in Great Britain and Northern Ireland to cover 30 per cent. of annual fresh claims by October 2006. An announcement will shortly be made about the additional pilot areas in Northern Ireland.

Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list of the (a) value significant codes and (b) property attribute types the computer assisted mass appraisal system being used in the Northern Ireland rates revaluation has the capacity to store and evaluate.

Angela Smith: A full list of data fields relating to value significant codes and property attributes which are stored and evaluated by the Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal System being used in Northern Ireland will be placed in the Library.

Child Poverty

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of children were living in poverty in each year since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: The seventh annual 'Opportunity for all' report (Cm 6673) sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and reports progress against a range of indicators. Detailed information about the number and proportion of children living in low income households is published in "Households Below Average Income 1994/95–2003/04", available in the Library. The threshold of below 60 per cent. contemporary median income is the most commonly used in reporting trends in low income.
	The information requested is in the tables.
	
		Number of children falling below 60 per cent. of contemporary median income. (Relative low income)
		
			 Million 
			 FRS (GB) Before housing costs After housing costs 
		
		
			 1996–97 3.2 4.2 
			 1997–98 3.1 4.1 
			 1998–99 3.1 4.1 
			 1999–2000 3.0 4.1 
			 2000–01 2.7 3.8 
			 2001–02 2.6 3.7 
			 2002–03 2.6 3.6 
			 2003–04 2.6 3.5 
		
	
	Source:
	Family Resource Survey
	
		Percentage of children living in households with income less than 60 per cent. of contemporary median income, Great Britain
		
			 FRS (GB) Before housing costs After housing costs 
		
		
			 1996–97 25 33 
			 1997–98 25 32 
			 1998–99 24 33 
			 1999–2000 23 32 
			 2000–01 21 30 
			 2001–02 21 30 
			 2002–03 21 28 
			 2003–04 21 28 
		
	
	Source:
	Family Resource Survey

Child Poverty

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of children in poverty were estimated to be living in the most disadvantaged areas in each year since 1997; and in which areas the remaining children living in poverty were resident.

Margaret Hodge: The information is not available.
	Detailed information about the proportion of children living in low income households is published in "Households Below Average Income 1994–95 to 2003–04", available in the Library. Information is sourced from the family resources survey (FRS), which does not allow for robust estimates below Government office region level. Information is not currently available which enables separate identification of households on the family resources survey by whether they live in disadvantaged areas. Information on deprivation for disadvantaged areas is available in the Office for Deputy Prime Minister's publication "The English Indices of Deprivation (2004)".
	The seventh annual 'Opportunity for all' report (Cm 6673) sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and reports progress against a range of indicators, and includes seven communities indicators, which measure outcomes of those in deprived areas compared to the rest of the population.

Disabled People (Independent Living)

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress his Department has made in setting up the Taskforce for Independent Living referred to in "Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People"; when he expects it will issue its first report; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit report "Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People" recommended that a Taskforce for Independent Living was established to develop imaginative new solutions and ways forward to actively promote independent living in a variety of ways.
	An official from the Department of Health has already been appointed to the Office for Disability Issues to set up the taskforce and a scoping exercise is now under way. Proposals will be put to the ministerial group in spring 2006 and the taskforce will be established shortly afterwards. The timing of the first report will be confirmed once the taskforce has been set up.

Incapacity Benefit

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the Department for Health on the potential effects of the expert patient programme on incapacity benefit reform; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Ministers from the Department for Work and Pensions have regular discussions with Health Ministers.
	Relationships between the expert patient programme and incapacity benefit reform were considered in the development of our recently published Green Paper; "A new deal for welfare: Empowering people to work" and the, also recently published, Department of Health White Paper.

Incapacity Benefit

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his Department's plans to reduce the number of people claiming incapacity benefit.

Margaret Hodge: We recently published our Green Paper, "A new deal for welfare: Empowering people to work". It lays out why we are proposing to help those people on incapacity benefit back to work and how we mean to achieve that goal. It is available in the Library.

Pensions Protection Fund

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the operation of the Pensions Protection Fund to date;
	(2)  how many applications to the Pensions Protection Fund have been received to date.

Stephen Timms: The Pension Protection Fund became operational on the 6 April 2005. It will pay compensation to members of eligible non money purchase pension schemes where an employer becomes insolvent and the scheme is unable to afford to pay benefits at the level of PPF compensation.
	The Board will produce an annual report and set of accounts for its activities in respect of each financial year, which the Secretary of State will present to Parliament.
	To date, there are 40 schemes in an assessment period for the Fund, accounting for over 21,500 scheme members.

Ambulance Service

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she has given to the ambulance service on the passing on of information to the police relating to call-outs involving drugs.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 19 January 2006
	The Government's 2001 response to the advisory council on the misuse of drugs report into drug related deaths said that:
	"An emergency call to a person who has overdosed should be viewed by the ambulance and police services as a medical emergency in the first instance. Ambulance controls should not as a matter of course inform the police when called to a drugs overdose but might do so if the original call indicated some risk to the safety of the ambulance crew, difficulty in access or other unusual circumstances. Additionally, when the original call indicates that the patient might be dead or the paramedic finds that to be the case on attendance, it is reasonable to expect that the police would be informed immediately.
	Local policy along these lines should be agreed through the Drug Action Team".
	In addition, the Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee (part funded by the Department) national clinical practice guidelines set out that overdoses from, or use of, illegal drugs would not warrant ambulance crews to provide a lesser level of patient confidentiality than any other health condition. Only when drug use is compounded by situations such as sudden or suspicious death would it be appropriate to override the duty of confidentiality.

Aylesbury Vale PCT

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the policy implications for her Department of the growth in population in Aylesbury Vale.

Caroline Flint: In relation to the policy on allocating revenue funds to primary care trusts (PCTs), ensuring that a robust population base is used to allocate funds is a primary consideration.
	The revenue allocations for 2006–07 and 2007–08, announced in February 2005, are based on Office for National Statistics (ONS) population projections. This data is the best available population data, which properly takes account of growing populations.
	In addition, in conjunction with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), a "Growth Area Adjustment" was included in the 2006–08 revenue allocations for designated ODPM growth areas. This adjustment supports those PCTs that will experience considerable population growth as a direct consequence of additional housing development in the growth areas. The Vale of Aylesbury PCT received a growth area adjustment within its 2006–08 revenue allocation. This adjustment is based on the additional increase in population, over and above ONS figures, that is due to the Government initiative.

Continence Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of progress by NHS and social care organisations in developing integrated paediatric continence services;
	(2)  what discussions her Department has had with the Department for Education and Skills concerning the implementation of the National Service Framework for Children in respect of paediatric continence services.

Liam Byrne: The assessment of availability and access to effective, and quality led health care, and the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, form a part of the Healthcare Commission's duties. The national service framework (NSF) for children provides a standard for determining progress with establishing integrated community-based paediatric continence services, by reference to a continence "Essence of Care" best practice tool. The Department has regular contact with the Department for Education and Skills on the means by which children who have health care needs may be supported in schools and early years settings, as part of achieving the goals of the NSF. The Department has also funded the voluntary organisation Promocon to draft guidance for the use of schools, relating to children with continence problems.

Walk-in Centres

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been treated at NHS walk-in centres in each year since their inception; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: There are now 72 national health service walk-in centres open and a further 17 in development. Since the first NHS walk-in centre opened in 2000, the number of visits has increased each year, which is shown in the table
	
		NHS walk-in centres, 2000–01 to 2004–05
		
			  Total number of visits 
		
		
			 2000–01 574,000 
			 2001–02 1,143,000 
			 2002–03 1,372,000 
			 2003–04 1,582,000 
			 2004–05 2,068,000 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health.
	NHS walk-in centres focused on serving commuters are beginning to open with newly opened centres near Liverpool Street station in London and Piccadilly station in Manchester. The Government's White Paper, "Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services" published on 30 January 2006 highlights that NHS walk-in centres already provide easy access to a range of primary care services and commits to further expansion of these services, according to local need.